LEARN HOW TO COOK : MEXICAN FEAST
Teacher : My lovely friend Taline
Dish: Mexican Feast
Location: Taline’s Casa
When I started 365 til 30 I thought learning how to cook was going to be the most challenging goal to accomplish this year but boy, was I wrong because I am really starting to LOVE cooking. This is coming from a woman who couldn’t scramble eggs 7 months ago (true story). I also thought that the tango was going to be my easiest goal to master and boy, was I wrong again because, simply put, the tango and I have issues.
My last cooking lesson was such a treat! Learning how to make a Mexican Feast from one of my best girlfriends proved to be a hysterical, fun and delicious experience….so what it took us 3 hours, a bottle of champagne and ski goggles to finish cooking the meal!!! On the menu : roasted pepper salsa, guacamole, skirt steak, refried beans and queso fundito with chorizo. Queso fundito with chorizo literally translates into melted cheese with spicy sausage…I mean, how can you go wrong with that??
The minute I arrived at Taline’s house she handed me that special pink apron with ruffles you see in the picture above and asked me if I was ready to cook. In that moment, I knew she meant business and I decided not to put up a fight about the pink apron. She then proceeded to tell me that she was teaching five dishes. In that moment, I knew that I shouldn’t have come hungry because it was going to be a while before my belly was seeing that Mexican food. Then she told me that she had done a menu test run the night before with her mother (who is from Mexico) to make sure she was on her game and in that moment I knew the wait was going to be worth it.
It was a hysterical three hours spent in the kitchen that culminated in us wearing ski goggles to cut the onions. We both happen to be terribly sensitive to those little bastards so Taline came up with the idea of cutting them with ski goggles on. Brilliant, huh??? I mean truly brilliant. Bravo Taline…bravo. She also happens to be the most gracious teacher…even sending me this text after I left-
“It was so nice having you over and you cooked quite the feast tonight with the coolest calm…you are super zen in the kitchen. xoxo”
She let me take all the credit but I could not have done it without her!
When we finally sat down to eat our Mexican feast, I wasn’t even sure I was hungry anymore. That was until I took my first bite of queso fundido with chorizo and almost died- it tasted like heaven.
Recipe’s coming!
365til30.com 
You are so funny Made me laugh. What a fun blog. Told Jen can’t wait till I meet you. Btw sounds delicious. You would love my daughter Rachel. She is an amazing inventor of dishes. Shame she lives in GA. Years ago back in the day in Venice before kids she would blow us away every night with her inventions.
Oops meant to say creations:)
Barbara I cannot wait to meet you! I’m just sorry it’s not going to be in Paris! That would have been too good to be true. I read Rachel’s blog as well and think she sounds like an amazing woman. You have done something right with your two girls!
Ahh thank you
All I have to say is that it’s a good thing I live in San Diego where great Mexican food is bountiful…..I may have to go get some since I don’t know how to cook the fabo feast you chronicled here!!!
Another message from Zachary….zachary koo lkjyu (such is life reading my favorite blogs with my curious four year old)
Best pictures ever and can I just say YUM! Can’t wait for the recipes. You are too cute and that seems like the most perfect way to tackle onions!
When can Pamela and I come over to have our authentic Mexican meal? PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!!!!
Kate – delicious – yum
When I saw this post, I knew I had to share the twitpic I posted a couple years back. http://twitpic.com/2nig5u
Goggle-wearing onion choppers unite!
Love your whole blog, too. Great idea! 🙂
Elizabeth, that’s brilliant!!! So happy I am not alone in the goggle-wearing onion chopping situation:)